Starting device for explosive-engines.



|23. INTERNAL CONBUSTION ENGINES,

Starting devices, Mechanical. (t u .1 6J

PATENTED APR. 10, 1906.

G. N. MOMILLAN. STARTING DEVICE FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

APPLIATIQN FILED DEO. 3, 1904.

^ UNITED STATES PATENT oEEioE.A

GILBERT N. MCMILLAN, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

-To all whom may concern:

Be it known that I, GILBERT N. MOMILLAN, a citizen. of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of'Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Imrovement in Starting Devices for Explsive'- ngines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hand-operated devices for starting internal-combustion or explosive gas engines the pistons of which must ordinarily be moved manually to compress the explosive charge to effect the initial explosion and start the automatic operation Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 3, 1904. Serial No. 235,294.

of the engine. Such engines are ordinarily4 .started by means of a crank, lever or the like a plied to the engine crank-shaft or other lsllfaft' driven by the engine. It hapCpens not infrequently that the charge is fire prematurely, owing to one cause or another-such, for instance, as a faulty igniter or the overheating ofthe cylinder-thereby causing a reverse or backward rotation of the engineshaft. Such backward rotation of the engine-shaft if imparted to the starting crank or devicewhen the operator is exerting pressure thereon to effect the forward rotation of the engine-shaft is very liable to seriously injure the operator.

The objects of this invention are to provide a simple and desirable device by which the en ine-shaft can be rotated forwardly to start t e engine, but which is positively prevented from taking any part in the reverse rotation of the engine-shaft in the event of a premature explosion, and, further, to so construct the starting device that it will be thrown out of action by the forward rotation of the engine-shaft after the engine has been started.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lfis `a longitudinal. sectional elevation of an engine-starting device embodying the invention. F1 2 1s a transverse sectlon, on a reduced sca e, of the clutch, showing one of the clutch members in elevation. Fig. 3 is a section, on a reduced scale, of the clutch, showing the clutch members in edge elevation. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation in line 4 4, Fi 1, showing the ratchet mechanism for hol g the starting-shaft from backward rotation.

STARTING DEVICE FOR EXPLOSIVE-ENGINES.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures. A A represents one end of a shaft which may be the engine crank-shaft or other shaft. driven by the engine and to whichthe starting device is coupled to start the en ine.

shaft, which is provided at its outer end wit 6o a hand crank, lever, or other device C for,` Vturning it and is releasably cou led to .theengine-shaft A by some means wlifereby'thdenine-shaft can be turned in one directionorwardly-by the startin -shaft and isp mitted to rotate backward y forwardly also independently of the starting-. shaft. The means shown for this vpurpose are constructed as follows: D, represents a `v clutch disk or member which is connectedto: the inner end of the starting-shaft by a screw l or stud d, on which it is free to revolve, andxfi D represents a complementary clutch disk or member which is slidable on the startingshaft toward and from the other clutch member, but is held against rotation on the shaft, l which for this purpose may be square or angular and passes through a correspondinglyshaped central hole in the clutch member D The clutch members are provided with inter- 8o locking projections d d2, having inclined or rounded edges da, which are yieldinfrly held in terlocked or in operative relationby suitable springs c, arranged between and bearing at opposite ends against the sliding clutch 85 member D and a plate E, which is fixed on the starting shaft. The pressure of the springs c and inclination of the edges of the interlockin projections of the clutch are so roportione that they will remain inter- 9o locked and cause the engine shaft to turn V with the starting-shaft until the charge is compressed and the engine started, while a premature explosion and pressure acting to turn the engine-shaft backwardly will cause 9'5 the separation of the clutch members, thus allowing the member D to turn rearwardly with the engine-shaft independently of the other clutch member. The clutch members and springs are inclosed by a suitable shell or casing f, secured to said plate E. The clutch member D is provided with a hollow hub or sleeve G, which loosely surrounds the engineshaft A and is provided at its end with a Patented .april1o,.19oe.A4

B represents amanually-operate startin f TOO i i i. f.

Starting devices, Mechanical.

notch g, which when the startin -shaft is moved axially inward and turned forwardly engages a cou ling stud or pin g on the engine-shaft an causes the latter to turn also. The notch has an inclnied edge g2, vagainst which the coupling-pin g acts when the engine is started and the engine-shaft A turned forwardly to throw the sleeve G outward out of enga ement with the coupling-pin. Other clutc es and couplin devices capable of the action described can e employed in place of those described.

The startin -shaft is free to turn forwardly, but is positive y held from rotation in the opposite direction or rearwardly by suitable means, which in the construction shown consist of a ratchet-wheel H, secured to the starting-shaft and provided with teeth which are engaged by pawls L h', pivoted on a stationary support I, which may constitute a part of the vehicle or other frame on which the engine is mounted. The disposal of the pawls 1s such that one is always in holding engavement with a tooth of the yratchetwheel, thus reventing any rearward movement of the atter.

The starting-shaft, which is square, is provided with a thirnble or bushing 7c, which is externally cylindrical and capable of rotation in bearing-holes 7c in the stationary' frame. The ratchet-wheel is fixed to this thimble lc. This construction affords a bearing for the outer end of the starting-shaft and permits the latter to be moved longitudinally to couple the clutch-sleeve G with and uncouple it from the engine-shaft without the ratchet-wheel partaking in the longitudinal movement of the shaft. The outward movement of the shaft is preferably limited by a collar Z, fixed thereon and adapted to strike the thimble. Holding means of other construction to prevent rearward rotation of the starting-shaft can be used.

The operation of the starting device is as follows: The operator pushes the startingshaft B, together with the parts carried thereby, inward and turns the hand-crank yin a forward'direction, as indicated by the arrows in Figs. 1 and 4, thereby engaging the coupling-pin g of the engine-shaft in the notch g of the clutch-sleeve G. The enginef shaft will be turned with the starting-shaft in the further forward rotation of the latter and the engine started. When the startingshaft is stopped or the speed of the engineshaft is greater than that of the startingshaft, the coupling-pin g will pass out of the notch g in the clutch-sleeve and throw the latter outward, and the engine-shaft will continue its forward movement independently of the starting-shaft. Should the engine fire prematurely or the engine-shaft be rotated for any reason in a rearward direction7 the startin -shaft and hand-crank cannot be turned ack with the engine-shaft on account of the engagement of the pawls h h with the ratchet-wheel H; but the clutch-disk D will yield so as to disenga e the clutch projections and permit the c utch member D and engine-shaft to rotate rearwardly independently of the starting-shaft and crank. No rearward movement can be imparted to the starting-shaft, and the operator is absolutely protected against injury.

I claim as `my invention- 1. The combination of an engine-shaft, a starting-shaft, means connecting said shafts and constructed to cause .them to turn together in one direction and having a part movable in a directio endwise of said starting-shaft to release theengine-shaft and allow it to rotate in the o` posite direction independently of the startmg-shaft, and means for positively holding the starting-shaft from rotation with the engine-shaft in said opposite direction, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of an engine-shaft, a starting-shaft, means connecting the engine and starting shafts and constructed to cause theformer to turn with the latter in one direction and to release the engine-shaft and allow it to rotate in the o posite direction independently of the startlng-shaft, means for positively holding the starting-shaft from rotation in said opposite direction, said starting-shaft being movable relative to said positive holding means to allow the independent rotation of the engine-shaft, substantially as set forth. f

3. The combination of an engine-shaft, a starting-shaft, a clutch connecting said shafts and consisting of a member connected to each of said shafts and constructed to cause said shafts to turn together in one direction, means for positively holding the startingshaft from rotation in the opposite direction, one of said clutch members being movable endwise of the starting-shaft t'o release said engine-shaft and allow it to rotate independently in said opposite direction, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of an engine-shaft, a starting-shaft rotatable in one direction, means for positively holding the startingshaft from rotation in the opposite direction, a clutch member connected to said startingshaft, a cooperating clutch member releasably coupled to said engine-shaft, and means for releasably holding said clutch members in driving relation, said starting-shaft being movable endwise relative to said positive holding means to release said second clutch member from the engine-shaft, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of an en ine-shaft, a starting-shaft rotatable in one irection, an

IIO

-starting-shaft from rotation in the opposite operating-handle lixed thereto, aratchet-and disks in driving relation, substantially as set pawl mechanism for positively holding the forth.

Witness my hand this 29th day of Novemdirection, a clutch-disk which is connected ber, 1904.

With said engine-shaft, a cooperating olutch- GILBERT N. MCMILLAN. disk which turns With and is slidable on the f starting-shaft to release said engine-shaft, and springs for yieldingly holding said clutch- Witnesses:

CHARLES W. PARKER, EDWARD C. HARD. 

